Cord Akey with teachers and the principal of Country Meadow Elementary.
Cord Akey is always seeking ways to give back to his community.
A high school senior from DeKalb, Ind., Akey currently serves as the Indiana FFA section 1 director, district III secretary and DeKalb FFA chapter president. In addition to these leadership roles, he’s passionate about expanding his knowledge of agriculture by competing in FFA competitions like forestry, welding and agriscience.
Outside of FFA, Akey is also deeply involved in academics and school life. He serves as vice president of the DeKalb chapter of the National Honor Society and plays an active role in the Freshman Peer Mentor Program by helping new students navigate high school.
However, it’s not about holding titles or academic accolades; rather, Akey’s true focus is on creating lasting change that benefits others. That’s exactly what he’s doing with his latest initiative: installing raised garden beds in local elementary schools.
Akey and his teammates and advisors participated in the National FFA Farm and Agribusiness Management Career Development Event during national convention.
Sowing Seeds
After noticing an opportunity to bring agricultural education to younger students in his community, Akey applied for the Indiana Farm Bureau Ag Literacy Challenge Grant, which provides funding to support agricultural literacy programs in Indiana FFA chapters or 4-H clubs. The grant was designed to help fund the creation of raised garden beds that would not only teach elementary students about gardening, but also alleviate some of the logistical burdens schools face when implementing such programs.
With the grant funding, Akey is installing four garden beds at local elementary schools. These beds will provide numerous benefits, including easier maintenance, improved aesthetics and, most importantly, an accessible, hands-on learning experience for students. Akey hopes this project will foster a greater understanding of agriculture at a young age and give back to the community that has supported him throughout his journey.
Akey working on the construction of the garden beds.
Building More Than Gardens
The funds from the Ag Literacy Challenge Grant were used to purchase the necessary materials to build and install the garden beds, including lumber, screws, sealant, gravel and soil. The grant also covered the cost of additional supplies such as gloves, trowels, garden forks, watering cans, hoses and seeds — all essential tools to help students make the most of their gardening experience.
“I think about all the factors in my community that have made me who I am today, and the community service opportunities I’ve had throughout my time in high school,” Akey says. “I’ve been so blessed by my coaches, teachers and community members who have come into my life, and I want to be that light for others.”
Akey with DeKalb FFA advisor Rebekah Peterson.
The idea for the project originated during a brainstorming session with Akey’s FFA advisor, where they discussed potential community service opportunities. After selecting elementary students as the target group, the idea of creating garden beds took shape.
Rooted in Purpose
Just as agriculture has helped Akey flourish, he hopes to use his knowledge to “pay it forward” to the next generation. By providing elementary students with hands-on learning opportunities through the garden beds, he aims to spark an early interest in agriculture and its importance in the real world.
“Youth are the future of agriculture and food security, so I want to make every positive impact I can,” Akey adds.
Although these garden beds will serve as an ongoing educational tool for the local elementary schools, the project is also a valuable learning experience for Akey himself. Through this initiative, he continues to build skills like hard work, integrity, responsibility, communication, networking, organization and project management — all of which will serve him well in future leadership roles and career endeavors.
The 2024-25 Indiana FFA District III officer team, alongside current Indiana FFA State President Ethan Wolheter, at the Premier Leadership Training (PLT) Conference.
The Road Ahead
Looking ahead, Akey is determined to continue his studies in agriculture. He plans to attend a four-year university, where he will major in agricultural engineering. Along the way, Akey hopes to gain hands-on experiences through internships in various sectors of agriculture, including engineering, business and sales — fields that have brought him joy and knowledge throughout his academic journey.
After college, he hopes to secure a full-time position with an agriculture company, ideally one where he can grow and make a long-term impact. Additionally, he plans to continue his involvement in agriculture by buying, raising, selling and donating show animals to 4-H participants and other buyers. This endeavor will provide both a source of income and valuable learning experiences.
“A big dream of mine is to own and operate my own agricultural sales equipment company, just like my grandfather did,” Akey says. “I plan to work hard to make this dream a reality later in my life.”
Akey at the DeKalb County Fair.
A Legacy of Growth
Throughout his time in the National FFA Organization and extracurricular activities, Akey has continued to leave a significant impact on his community. From his leadership roles in FFA to his hands-on agricultural initiatives like the raised garden beds, he’s not only cultivating his own future, but also planting the seeds for a brighter tomorrow.
Akey serves as a counselor at the Indiana FFA Foundations in Reaching Excellence (FIRE) Conference.
